U. S. Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks during the observation of the 67th anniversary of the end of WWII at Atria Senior Living in Darien on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., will convene a federal hearing on Lyme disease at UConn Stamford, Conn. on Thursday, Aug 30, 2012. less

U. S. Senator Richard Blumenthal speaks during the observation of the 67th anniversary of the end of WWII at Atria Senior Living in Darien on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and ... more

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Hearing on Lyme disease treatment

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STAMFORD -- U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will oversee a field hearing at the University of Connecticut Stamford Thursday to discuss whether expanding the federal government's role in treatment and research of Lyme disease could limit its spread nationally.

"Without exaggeration, Lyme disease has reached a scope of epidemic proportions that needs to be addressed much more seriously in Connecticut and around the country," Blumenthal said. "A national and federal approach to support scientific advances in diagnosis and detection as well as treatment is certainly crucial."

Blumenthal, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, is seeking input from Lyme sufferers as well as advocacy and research groups on what steps the federal government should take to combat Lyme disease.

The hearing begins at 10 a.m., Thursday at UConn's Gen Re Auditorium, One University Place.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is to testify as part of a panel at the hearing about what legislation is needed to fight Lyme disease in her state.

Last year, Blumenthal and other lawmakers introduced legislation that would require formation of an advisory group called the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee, which would consider ways to integrate federal and private efforts to study or fight Lyme disease.

The committee would include four scientists representing diverse perspectives on Lyme involved in the scientific study of the disease, along with representatives from volunteer advocacy groups, professionals who treat the disease and two patients diagnosed with Lyme or another tick-borne disease.

The legislation also calls for work to determine the feasibility of a national uniform reporting system, and requiring all states to report Lyme disease cases.

Tests now are only accurate at pinpointing the disease shortly after infection, making it harder to keep track of likely cases.

"While some money has been allocated to tick-borne diseases over the years, it is Lyme Research Alliance's hope that the government will do a better job at distributing the research funding in a manner that is not prejudiced, but in a transparent fashion utilizing modern technology for more accurate diagnostics, treatments and prevention methods," Siciliano said.